Cinematograph-machine.



M. E. MYERS AND M. AJJ. HARPER.

CINEMATOGBAPH MACHINE. [APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 19m

Q .INVENTOR.5

To all whom it mayooneern: i i

Be it kno'wn ,thtt we, Mo Emmi a; citizen of the United States, and fMnnim ALAJ; flititrmge subject of the King the United Kingdom of Girent'Britain Ireland, both residing. at the borough ofiMennatmn; city; county, afld State of "QNeirYm-k; have invented' eermin new and Y useful Imprevememe n (linemamgmphmahm; 'reieienee had therein to -the ae- "thereof; i i i i i i Our invention relates to cinematograph ln oifiel'natograph"machines; itis'the comrno'n prectiee to employ a shutter operating i lljQ l n of the 'mfiehihe; said shutter embodying therein a blade adeptegi to pass before the 1ens-of themechinedfll'mg the interval when ps1 l 20 the fil trl ie-receiving movement, in order to inwr eept in image?!) gpro yected epon the semen, our ing jthisw mtervtla This blade Whieh is as theFcever bladwpassestmm before the lens substantially simultaneeusly the ligh blade ieformed of opaque i material,

.iz'lso: customary to use one or more si"ilanbledesQin the-shutter; knownjas flicker: blaicies, which pass aeross the lens while the filiiiis stationairy, in "order to i eq'uaIize, d balaneethe light conditions at J the semen, and rediice the 1 sharp contrasts between thebrief interve'l when the cover 1 hlade is oe'rartive and the screen is not i illhiiminate jafidthe longerintervalduring The rapid exposure of succeeding upon the min, with the rapid alterfllckel tim beinflo l reese the rapidityor 'fieenemy of sueh alternations to anexte'nt to Initkevthis flicker of such" Short clilratiol'l as ,to 1@eli1'0e the I perceptible im ression made 0 u on thefobticfnerve.

- flMIEBSY v mn'rmh; 1am] l cm iir'n'roem mummy v i l spcmeat'm or etters Patent.

ehinee ofwhieh thefiolliowingis speeifieaeb-inpanyingfdrewings, which fofln a part ins nehrohism withthe film feeding mecha M trays and prevent the with the stoppage of the film. When the:

' the image is being projected upon the v darkening and"-i1 l 1in1ination" of the a'jreondltion' know in this; M e fnliction'of th'eflieker' i =i 1-fftlie'f euver blwe ex end i will pass tothewscreen andqthe movement of the film wlllihe' apparent noon the screen,

the light tones and highlights of the picture 'beingqelongated with the resultant develop? Y o ment uponthe sereenof light streaksvknown -tothe art as: travel ghostsmfi -fftreveli or ghosts which very :Inueh: 'aeeentneted' by reason of the reduetion' of the aggregate volumeof llghtpiss ng to the screen and "r tentediMay6,,19ie. j l -1'p'p1idtnflonfledhfimry80, 1918, Serial No. 214,479.

thevcontrestingbrilliancy of t-he reprodueed i" K We have discovered by actual demonstra-w tiomthat irrespective of the sizeoff m open- 'ing in an otherwise opaque eovei' blade or flicker blade, e. fiill pieture will be; projected through this opening upon the screen, but that "the definition of the pieturemodf the sharp eontrast of 'the itones ztherleo f, varies with'the aggregate svolumeiof'lightf passing through the shutter blades; mine screen.

"We have also discovered that by; permitting a; iredu'eed 'volume f slight m na e to the, i while eitherthe cover blade orfthe flicker blade is inw-theopemtive relation to i the lens, which light is' so diffused "as'to prevent" an image Jbeing defined :upomthe screen thereby; while at the same time interrupting even"' these' light rays with great l rap1d1ty5 or hlgh frequeney sharp"eontrasts between the; nnifonm deep tonesiiipon the semen resulting from a total'absenee of illumination; and the brilliancy resulting in the projeetionofthe total volflmebtlight t passlng through the filnrandthelens e resulting in a fliekenere ELVOldBd.- \Ve'heve rays also discovered that under the conditions immedlately above "referred to, the elimination of the fiiekergis" accompanied by a lack of contrast in thedarktones; light tones and high lights in thereprodueed] inmge, the general eflect being in darkening of the lighter tones" and w lightening of the darker tonesyresulting in whatis known es a ig reproductionmwhieh undesirable condition, however; may be obvizitedvby le mittmg wsmal]. volume of light f'snfiieient to accurately defineuthe image, to pass through theshutter tothe semen, thus" GIN-ft ating a condition in which the screen is constantly illuminated, but with a varied degree of brilliancy, the basic tones of the picture of the film being always present upon the screen, whether the film is stationary or in motion. This condition, by reason of a con 'stant illumination of the screen and the alternate interruption by, and passage of light rays through, the shutter blades, will, dur- 'ing the movement of the film, so control the light rays as to avoid such apparent light conditions upon the screen as will result in ghosts thereon.

With these conditions in mind, the object of our invention has been to provide a shutter mechanism for a cinematograph machine by which the screen will be constantly illuminated but with a varying degree of blade is in the operative relation to the lens,"

the volume of light defining this image upon the screen being sufficiently small to prevent such a streaking of the screen as will be apparent to the observer in the form of travel ghosts, travel or ghosts.

With a shutter made in accordance with our invention, the light conditions upon the screen are not only such as to place the eye of the observer under less strain than when using shutters with opaque cover and flicker blades, but the Volume of light required to secure an effective reproduction of a picture upon the screen is less than when such opaque blades are used so that with the same consumption of light producing energy, better definition can be secured than with opaque blades, or an equally good reproduction can be secured with a. lower energy consumption.

The invention consists primarily in a cinematograph machine embodying therein a shutter having a cover blade provided with a multitude of closely juxtaposed, alternate opaque and translucent portions and a transparent area, whereby a portion of the light rays are intercepted, another portion thereof is diffused without defining an image upon the screen, and other portions thereof pass through the shutter in a, manner to faintly define the image upon the screen; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a projector embodying a shutter made in accordance with our invention;

' Fig. 2 is a view of one embodiment of the invention, portions thereof being broken away to disclose the structural details of the shutter;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the filler; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of one of the blades of the shutter embodying another form of the invention.-

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown the invention as applied to a shutter of the rotating type, which is the type generally employed in projectors now in use.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown an ordinary cinematograph machine embodying therein a lamp structure a, a lens box I) in which the feedlng mechanism for the film is inclosed, and film reel cases 0 and d. This mechanism is old and well known to the art and no particular construction thereof is essential to our invention.

Carried by a rotating shaft 6 which is driven in synchronism with the film feeding -mechanism is a shutter consisting of a suitable frame f and a hub 9 connected by a plurality of spokes it arranged in pairs and extending from said hub to said frame.

Supported between the spokes h of one ofsaid pairs is the cover blade and between the other pairis the flicker blade. It is a common practice in this art to employ either a single flicker blade or a plurality of such blades, the number of such blades being immaterial to our present invention.

In order to secure the desired operative effect of a shutter made in accordance with permit, the passage of light rays, the number of translucent areas being such as to insure a continuous illumination of the screen but with decreased brilliancy as compared with that produced by the penetration of the maximum volume of light rays emanating from the source of light as controlled by the picture. The translucent portions serve to diffuse that light which passes therethrough, in a manner to prevent a definition of the image of the picture upon the screen thereby. Since this condition, however, will result in a gray reproduction or an absence of the desired contrast of tones in the reproduction, we provide this imam cover blade with an opening or a plumlity of small openings through which light, in small volume, may pass without difiusion and thus more or less faintly define the upon the screen. By reason of the comment illumination of the screen through the translucent portions, this light will have the efiect of .pre'servingvthe basic tone values of the picture upon the screen, without that sharp contrast in the tones ot the picture which would result in the formation of per ccptible light. streaks or In the embodiment of t e invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, we secure this result by formin thecover blade of two plates i and 7' pre embly of metal, having a multitude of small erforstions there.- in, the material of the p ates between said openings being thoroughly opaque. The openings in these plates maybe in reg ister or maybe staggered in relntionto each other, or if desired one of the plates may be dispensed with. Instead of erforated plates, a Wire mesh or gauze may 7 i used.

Between the plates 11 and 1', we employ a filler sheet which may be of desired translucent material, having a, surface so formed as to diffuse the light rays assing therethrough. We have. secured hig "y satisfactory results by employing a thin sheet of paper impregnated with vurious chemical substances, which have the efiectof slightly contracting the paper and making it more transparent. This filler sheet I: is Provided with a plurality of smallepenings k preferably arranged concentric "with the axis of the rotatable shutter, these openings being arranged adljaieent the forward and rear edgesof'theblnde (as'to its direction of re tation). The openings k provide a pl! rality of small transparent through which the light rays may freely pass, the complete picture being projected through these openings upon the so II in a manner to define the image thereon, the whims or light being such as to reduce the tones" of the reproduction in a manner to eliminate the formation of perceptible ghosts by of the absence of contrast between the diffused light upon the screen, and the high lights and lighter tones of the reproduced The construction of the flicker blue is likethat of the cover blade as to the and the filler, the plates "of the flicker blade being indicated at and n r spectively and thefill er'sheet being indicated at or "Since the film is stationary when the flicker blade is operative, the possibility of the formation of ghosts in the. reproduction is absent, and inasmuoh as it is desirable to secure sharper contrasts "in theumes of the reproduction when the flicker blade is of)- erstive than when the cover 'jblade is eperative, we provide the filler sheet a with openings e correspondingi'n fnnction with slots terminating adjacent each other and the edges of the fiiekierhlade In the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFig 4., the tplates are dispensed with, theopsqne portions of the cover and flicker blades being formed hy the superficial application to the filler shoot it.- self of an opaque material such "as pigments of inks 0r paints. In this form ofthe invention, the filler sheet is indicated at and the opaque areas thereof at p". In other respects the construction of the form of the invention in Fig. 4 would be as heretofore deseribed. While we have found that this form of the invention gives satisfactory artistic. results, this construction, however, is too. fragile to give prolonged service and We thereiiore prefer to use motsllic reinforcing plates which will hold the filler sufiiciently flat to insure uniformitythroughout the entire area thereof.

We prefer to use a filler made of impregnnted paper, gelatin or other such material, assuch produces .a shutter which is fairly lightin wei ht and ives satisiucto 1 results.

If desinec the li when either'the cover or the flicker blade is in operntiveirelation to the'lens may be still further modified by using a colored "filler sheet, which will give a colored eil'ect to the reproduction. This, however, can he SQ? cured only by sacrifice of light producing energy and we preier to use a substantially white filler sheet.

The operation of the herein described shuther is substantially as follows:

In describing the operation of a shutter made in accordance with our invention certain oonditionsresulting from itsuse wil'lb'e referred to. In many instances, however,

such conditions are up v rent rather than real,

thus conforming to te elementary theories of a oine'matograph machine, and resultfrom limitations in the human vision r'ather'than from actual mechanical eonditionsi Many oi the objectionable characteristics of cinematograph machines result from persistence of vision and tho/inability of the human eye to register actual conditions with a rapidity eommensurate with the rapidity with which such conditions change.

In the operation of a machine embodyin therein a shutter made in accordanee witfi our invention, the shutter is rotated at hi h ed, receiving one full revolution during e e feeding movement and exposure ofeach picture efthe film; Since the. pictures are exposed to the lens openil'zlg' ordinarily at the rate of sixteen per seeon', it follows that the speed of notation of the shutter ap tefiewsupon te screen define the image of the picture.

proaches 1000 R. P. M. Hence, the cover blade and the flicker blade, or blades, are each in an operative relation to the lens for only a very small fraction of a second, the cover blade, the flicker blade, or blades. and the intermediate clear spaces in the shutter, passing the lens successively and with great rapidity.

In describing the operation of the shutter, we will limit the description to those varying conditions present during'a single revolution of a shutter. While the cover blade is passing the lens, the film will be receiving its feeding movement, and in this interval during which the cover blade is in the operative relation to the lens, a portion of the light rays, emanating from the source of light and passing through the film, will be intercepted by the opaque areas of the blade, other portions of light rays will pass through the translucent portions of the blade to the screen, and be so diffused as to prevent the projection of an image upon the screen, thereby, thus securing merely the efl ect of the illumination of the screen with a reduced brilliancy as compared to when the cover blade is operative, and aflording a light background against which other portions of the light'rays passing through the transparent areas, or openings, in the screen This definition of the image upon the screen will preserve the basic tones of the picture upon the screen, without those sharp contrasts between the high lights and lighter tones, and the shadows or deeper tones, which will makea perceptible impression upon the eye, the alternation of opaque and translucent areas in the shutter and the separation of the transparent areas, or openings, insuring uniformlty in the conditions upon the screen during the entire interval when the cover blade is operative, and preventing varying light condition on diiferent portions of the screen. I

' As heretofore stated, the illumination of the screen by the light passing through the translucent portions of the shutter, presents a substantially uniform light, background and eliminates perceptible light streaking, or ghosts, upon the screen while the film has movement; while the projection of the image upon the screen through the transparent areas of the blade, will preserve the basic tones of the picture even though the picture is receiving movement, to an extent to prevent grayness of the reproduction in its entirety.

As the cover blade leaves the operative position as to the lens, the shutter completely uncovers the lens thus permitting the full volume of light rays, passing through the film, to be projected upon thev screen. At this stage therewill be a sharp contrast between the high lights and lighter tones, and

the shadows or darker tones, of the reproduced picture, but the effect o'fthe brilliancy of this reproduction upon the eye will be very much modified. from the fact that while the cover blade was operative, the screen Was nevertheless illuminated, but with a lesser degree of brilliancy. By reason of the fact that the basic tones of the picture are preserved upon the screen While the cover blade is operative, persistence of vision will carry these tonal eflects into the interval following the operative period of the cover blade, this condition resulting in a sharp definition of the reproduced image Without materially lightening the darker tones.

Immediately following the full exposure of the lens, the flicker blade becomes operative. The opaque and translucent areas of this blade will have the effect of reducing the illumination of the screen in the same manner as with the corresponding portions of the cover blade, but the increase in size of the transparent areas in' this blade, will permit the image to be defined upon the screen through these areas, with a relatively greater brilliancy as to the portions of the shutter effecting the complete exposure of the lens. The modulation of the lighter effects while the flicker blade is operative will prevent a disproportionate duration of any period of greatest brilliancy in the illumination ofthe screen, thus tending to preserve uniformity in the light efl'ects upon the screen throughout the entire cycle of operations of the shutter. 100

Following the operative interval of the flicker blade, the shutter again completely exposes the lens until the cover blade again becomes operative upon the succeeding cycle of operation.

Throughout, persistence of vision, is relied upon to secure the desired effect of the picture upon the eye of the observer, and hence the general light effects upon the screen sofar as the observer is aware 110 are .substantially uniform, although, as a matter of fact, there is a constantly varying light condition at the screen. However, the screen is constantly illuminated whether the cover, or flicker blade, is in the 115 perative relation 'to the lens, or not.

'While We have referred to a substantial elimination of light streaking, travel, or ghosts upon the screen, we do not wish to be understood as stating that these condi- 120 tions are actually eliminated. In fact, with the movement of the film, the lighting efl'ects upon the screen vary with the movement of the film. But, the background of light against which the image is projected through 125 the transparent opening, or openings, eliminates that sharp. contrast between the lighter tones and high lights, and the deeper tones and shadows, of the reproduced image, the lighter tones merging in the background to 130 s am 1 1, a aextentvtow nake:thevghost so -inconspicufused without definingl to sasano to makeJa'perceptible impression screen, and other eye: h .r i throughsaidiblades 1n a ma i theflelimination define am image'wuponjf the'scree pp nt that while the; parent! area oflthefiicker blade be' ck b deare operative tively rgreaterthan that fth e en there is .ach 5 A ci'nen 1 ph aclri r therein a I compr p I,

of opaque material each having m ltitu of small perforationsthere fill *oftranslucentfmaterial havi rea therein between I said plates,

' portion of the light": rays '15 intercepted, an

. change is p of, degree K: lamination instead w-of. ahalterna casting f a deep shadow as a rilliant lamination-pf, the scree With a*mere variance in the def gree of brilliancy of the illumination of the p screen duringidifi'erent portions of each Y other portion thereofis difi'usedand procycle of operations oftheshutter, the change jected lllpOIl the screen Without defining an" i of light conditionszmakes no appreciable imimage thereon and another portion thereof pression on the eye, and hence there is no, passes thereth. oughin amanner to "faintly tpparent flicker. I define animage uponfthe screen.

It isnot our intentionto limitthe inven- 6. A einematograph machine embodying; on the; precise details of construction therein a cover bladecomprising two plates hown in the drawings, it being apparent of opaquematerial, eachhaving amultitude mthatasuch may be H varied without departing of small perforationstherein, and a fillerof from) the spirit and "scope of the invention. translucent material cbetween""said plate Having described the invention'what we "whereby a portion ofjthe 1i claim as 'new and desire to have protected xcepted and another, portion reo 1 I1ettersBatentis:- c, v fusedand'projected upon these en 1. c'nematograph machine embodying defining an i1nagethereon,said fillerhavin v therein ashutter having a cover blade proan opening therein, wherebya-portio fth videdqwith?a multitude of closely juxtaposed, light rays passwthr" h the said alternate opaque and translucent portio smannerltofaintlyde ne an image upon and a] transparent area, whereby aportion screen. i 1 of the light; raysisintercepted, another por- 7; A cinematograph" machine embodym (in-thereof is diffused without defining an thereinqa shutter having a cover bladeand image iuponthe screen, and other portions a flicker blade com rising two l'plates of 35 thereof pass through said blade in a manner 0 aque material, eac having ai -multitude to "faintlydefine an image upon the; screen. of small perforationstherein, anda fillerpt Aflcinematograph machine embodying; translucent material-,between sai plates 1 erein'a shutter havinga cover blade and r i 1e lightrays j' fiicke blade provided" with a; multitude of cepted and" anotherportion there '40 "close uxtaposed, alternate. opaque and fused. and projected uponthescree I i trans u cent portions anda transparent area, defining an image thereon, saidjfiller h whereby a portion of the light rays is interan opening thereim whereby a portion, h cepted, another portion thereof is diffused the light rays ass throu h thesaidblade in; without defining an imageuponthe screen, a manner to aintly de neanjimage upon andother ortions thereof pass through said thescreen. p i a v p v 110 ickerbl e in a manner to faintly define an 8. A cinematograph imachine embodying magezupon the screen. I I I therein, a coverhlade and auflicker blade 3,,A 'cinematograph machine embodying each comprising twotplates of opaque :11 therein a shutter having a cover blade and terial, eachhavinga,multitudeofsmallpe a flicker blade, each provided witha multiforationstherein, andafiller of tran'sluce tude of closely'juxtaposed, alternate opaque materialbet'weensa" lates whereby a'po nd translucent portions and a transparent tionof'the light rays isinterceptedanda area, whereby a. portion of the light rays is other portion thereofis diffused andpr 1ntercepted,"another portion thereof is 'difjected uponjthe screen without defining fused without defining an image upon the image thereon, said "filler'havingfanfopenin screen, and other"; portions thereof pass therein, whereby a portion of the light 'ra hroughsaid blades in a manner to faintly pass through the said blade in a manner" define an image upon the screen; faintly define an image upon the I f4,"A ,jcinematograph machine embodying 9. A cinematogra h machine embod ing tl rein a shutter having cover blade and therein a cover blage and a flicker b ade,

f 'k r-rbl'ade, each provided with a mutltieach comprising two plates ofqopaque mak eofc1osely juxtaposed, alternate opaque terial, each havinga multitudeoft small per ml translucent portions and a transparent forationstherein, and a filler of translucent area, wherebya portion of the light rays is materialbetween saidplates whereby a portlmihteroepted, another portion thereof is diftion of the light mys sintercepted-and a other portion thereof is difi'us ed and projected upon the screen without defining an image thereon, said filler having an opening therein, whereby a portion of the light rays v5 pass throufigjh the said blade in a manner to faintly de e an image upon the screen, the opening in the filler of said flicker blade being of relatively greater area than that in said cover blade.

In witness whereof, we hereunto afiix our 10 signatures, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of January 1918.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Wllhlnlton, D. c." 

